ISKRA – Istria and Karst NGO’s Hub

Establishment of a professional, participative, and sustainable NGO sector through advocacy, comprehensive support, and cross-sectoral integration.

DURATION: 1. 2016–30. 9. 2019DEVELOPER OF THE PROJECT: PiNATHE PROJECT IS SUPPORTED BY: the Ministry of Public Administration and the European Social FundKEYWORDS: HUB, NGO, ADVOCACY, NGO WITH POTENTIAL, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, PARTICIPATION

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL SECTOR AS ONE OF THE KEY FACTORS IN CREATING A REGION WITH THE GREATEST QUALITY OF LIFE
The program for Istria and Karst NGO’s hub addresses the identified social potential for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which it attempts to achieve through tackling the obstacles presently facing the non-governmental sector in the region. The planned activities focus on strengthening the professional and sustainable NGO sector in the region, enhancing its role as a partner in public policy-making and its embedment in the international environment, along with a strengthened and sustainable NGO hub.

The development and strengthening of NGOs and the NGO sector in general will occur through professional training, advocacy, information measures, and networking, based on in-depth knowledge of the environment and analysis of environmental requirements.

The ISKRA hub’s work is designed to complement the cross-sectional and synergetic activities of the empowered, qualified NGOs of the Coast-Karst region in cooperation with other relevant agents. These activities will sustainably strengthen the NGO sector and thus have a significant impact on the development of civic society in this region.

ACTIVITIES AND AREAS OF OPERATION:

1. PROFESSIONAL AND SUSTAINABLE NGO SECTOR: Strengthening information, and the organizational, professional, and advocacy qualifications of the NGOs with potential to address local needs, thereby contributing to the sustainability of the NGOs and enhancing their role in performing public services:
Organizing numerous workshops, training courses, webinars; and providing tutoring, counseling, establishing libraries, etc., with an emphasis on selected NGOs with potential.

2. ADVOCACY AND PARTICIPATION:Contributing to a greater role of the NGOs in designing local and regional policies:
Based on the analysis of the Coastal-Karst region’s needs: establishment of working groups in the fields of discrimination against minorities, cultural policies, arrangement of the Koper–Izola coastal road, youth housing problem, establishment of a home group for marginalized groups, etc.; and the establishment of an NGO center for advocacy and active participation.

3. CROSS-SECTORAL OPERATION:Enhancement of cross-sectoral integration and cooperation in finding solutions to local needs:
Establishment of networks for youth employment, cooperation in tourism, civil society participation in public affairs, and the marketing of the mission; as well as the implementation of common cross-sectoral actions, also in cooperation with other regional hubs.

4. STRENGTHENED AND SUSTAINABLE HUB:Strengthening the role of a regional hub, with the aim of improving the position and the conditions for NGOs operation:
As agents and promotors of advocacy (call for applications and prize-giving ceremony for the best graduation and masters’ theses linked to the operation of regional NGOs; TV show about NGOs, etc.) and strengthening an on-going dialogue (nomination of NGO representatives in consultative and working bodies, cooperation in designing a youth strategy, active role in coordination of Interreg programs, cooperation in designing municipal cultural policies, etc.).